SLOWING DOWN at Disney

[RllngRckBrw]

Every trip I say I am going to slow down and smell the roses but we get there and I turn into a child and start go go, go, go. One of these trips I will do it differently.

 

[Golf4food]

C) A little of both.

Are they miniature roses?

 

[princess lovers mom]

last trip we took a whole day and called it "hidden mickey hunt 2007" - made shirts and everything (people stopped us and asked how they could sign up for the hidden mickey hunt !!)

it was a blast...still did rides,shows etc, but the goal was to see how many hidden mickey's we could find!!! made us slow down...

this is NOT something to do the first day or on a short trip...we are going for 10 days again this year...gives you time to relax!

 

[donac]

My dh and I are early risers so we get out to the parks early but we do slow down because of problems

A couple of times I have gone and have had bone spurs (had them twice). We had to slow down since mom couldn't move as fast as the boys.

We were planning a trip this year for Aug. Reservations made and everything and my one foot started to bother me. I think my feet hear "DISNEY WORLD" and decided it is time to start hurting. Yes it is a cruel joke that my body has been playing on me.

I found out in June that I had a bunion causing the great deal of pain my ankle was in and was causing tendinitis in the ankle. It was too late to schedule surgery with this vacation already planned so my dr gave me heavy duty anti inflamatories that helped a lot but it didn't take everything away. (Because I am a teacher I am looking at next June to take the problem away)

Dh and I went back to the room early some nights just so I could ice my ankle

 

[remark44]

I just got back from a very overscheduled and rushed trip. My DH was ready to kill me by the end of it. And I am a little sorry that I didn't schedule a down day. I picked the CBR for the pool and we never even used it.

I am also a little sorry that we didn't see any of the side shows at the parks. I was so concerned with making it to the big attractions and shows that I made my family pass by the small ones.

I've promised myself that the next trip I will take the days one at a time and try to do some of the small stuff.

You just have to keep reminding yourself that there is too much to do in one trip and don't try to do it all.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I tend to rush and try too much, and then often feel stressed, so this is what we do and it works for us.
Arrival day- Arrive early, enjoy the resort, swim, enjoy a nice dinner (for us WCC) and early to bed.
First day- MK, Rope drop to Kiss Goodnight. An afternoon "break" of dinner at Kona and a stroll around the Poly. Do as much as we can whle we are fresh and rearing to go.
Day 2- HS, rush for a TSM fast pass, then take our time doing the few thigs we love and of course Fantasmic.
Day 3- Relaxed, no plans day, maybe a park (we added a day for a few bucks just in case), maybe "Minnie" Golf, or ICE.
Day 4- Animal Kingdom, arrive early and do as much as we can/want to.
Day 5- Thanksgiving- Start at BBB for the girls, a little shopping, lunch (the Kitchen Sink), possibly the "Minnie" golf if they haven't and want to. Get ready for early dinner and resort hopping to see the decorations.
Day 6- Early CRT breakfast, then a more relaxed day at MK again, to do all we love and missed.
Day 7- Epcot- end on a ruched note, we have only allowed one day at EPCOT this time, so we will be there Rope Drop till they boot us out, but it is our last day so we won't want to leave.
Leaving Day- Last breakfast at Chef Mickey's, then shopping at DTD for all out souvies, before heading home.

We don't like to totally wear ourselves out like we used to, and don't feel the need to do it all, on the other hand, we won't be back for 2 years and can sleep when we get home, so for us, this works. It is a nice balance for our family.

 

[Stitchfans]

We are not early risers on vacation since we have to get up so darn early at home. But we are none stop all day long when we get to the parks so yes we are pretty tired when we get back to our resort. But it is a happy tired.

Oh and as far as rushing, no. We take our time and stroll to each thing we want to see and do. Again at work we have to rush and run not on vacation. At work we have big stress - not while on vacation.

 

[terbethk]

we are definitely "rushers" we're constantly running around from place to place.
My strongest memory from our trip last year is DH dragging me (my poor feet hurt soooo bad) through DHS to catch a show and I just wanted to fall on the pavement because I was in so much pain.
BUT we're doing it again this year.

However...usually after we've finished doing everything that we've wanted to do at that certain park for the day, we relax and just sit, eat, chill, whatever.
We probably won't be doing disney again for another couple years (career changes, school, a big move, probably a baby, etc..) so we need to get it all in now while we can.

 

[RockNRollerGator]

Wait, there's roses? Sorry, I didn't see the,, I was too busy getting to Expedition Everest!

 

[Misty89]

Smell the roses.

enjoy the little things, who knows when you will get back!
i have waited 5 long years to walk into the Magic Kingdom......too long.

 

[TessieA]

We always rush. I would really like to try slowing down next trip.

 

[OB1]

I think this really depends on how often you go. We live in the South and go twice a year for 3-4 days each trip, at slower times. We are able to see most everything. We have to option to slow down because we know we will be back.

We like to make park opening to catch the E rides, but then we tend to cruise. Our last trip, we actually did not leave Main Street for over an hour at opening. We wanted to see what happens, see characters, listen to the Dapper Dans, hit all the mouse hands of the cast members, and watch other entertainment.

 

[mdoc]

We go at busy times of year, so if we don't get there early and use fast passes, we will end up spending our entire vacation standing in a line. So we do rush to get there in the morning, rush to do our favorite attractions early, and run all over the park collecting fastpasses. Once we've done the biggies and the park starts to fill up, we slow down. We go to Disney enough that we don't have to do everything on every trip, which helps.

 

[thesupersmartguy]

We take our time, we go enough to not worry about rushing to rides. If we don't make it to a ride, that's fine, we'll do it in 2 months.

 

[Lynn5700]

We have been so many times so it is nice to take the time to smell the roses. there is so much to take in at Disney.

 

[tinkbyday]

The first trip we rushed - since then, not so much. We do what we can, enjoy everything and feel relaxed when we get home.

I don't want to feel like I need a vacation when I get home from vacation

 

[Luvamouse]

I didn't vote because we also fall into the 50-50 category. We may rush in the morning to hit the big rides and be done when the crowds come. Then we get on the train for a leisurely ride around or get something to snack on and stroll to look at the plantings. I agree that I don't want to miss the little things in the big picture of WDW. Those little details, like the hidden Mickeys and the pressed penny machines are what make it special for us.

 

[Brian Noble]

We also have a mix. We often get there in the morning and "get things done" for the first hour or two the park is open. After that, we're a lot more relaxed.

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

The best thing that happened to our Disney vacations was joining DVC and AP. We know we are coming back. So, we don't go "commando" anymore. We like to soak in the atmosphere of being at WDW (and NOT at home ). On our first trip to WDW, many moons ago, we hardly spent time at our resort and were in the parks from sunrise to sunset. We didn't even get to enjoy the pools and resort amenities. We needed a vacation from our vacation once we got home.

Now, we DO still get to rope drop. However, we do a few rides in the morning/early afternoon and then head back to our resort to relax. Then refreshed, we head out for more fun in the parks or a leisurely dinner at our resort. With three kids, and this is suppose to be a vacation for DH too, we don't burn the candle at both ends anymore. It makes for a happy DH, happy kids and many wonderful HAPPY memories.

Little things we've seen/experience once we stopped to smell the roses:

Miyuki (candy lady at Epcot's Japan Pavilion)

We took the train to Rafiki's Planet Watch at DAK. I have read on other threads how many people skip this and half thinks it's boring. Our kids had a GREAT time! They saw Jiminy Cricket, Pocahantas and Rafiki. We watched a presentation on an owl. Also, DS8 encountered a talking trash can. DS3 loved the petting zoo. Sometimes too much stimulation (rides) can overwhelm younger children. They were definitely refreshed riding the train back. Then it was back to riding EE for the third time of the day!

Club Cool at Epcot. We missed this the first few trips to Epcot. It was fun to try the different sodas. "The Beverly" Yummy!

TTA at MK. This is a ride that is overlooked by many MK guests. Once we found it and rode it for the first time, it has become a family favorite. It's a very nice "chill out" ride.

There are many, many more.

Stop and smell the roses . . .

Have a magical trip!

Jennifer

 

[eliza61]

I don't even think about rushing anymore. Luckily my kids are teenagers now so if they want to bolt from the entrance to a ride they can. Dh & I stroll and enjoy the beauty of the parks. I'm never going back to commando style again.